Newbie wants to learn

[Burkan]

Hello Group.

I’m looking to learn as much as I can about Satellite types, installation, receivers, dishes, etc. before I start buying equipment I may not be able to use or need. I currently have Dish Network but I’m not too happy with their package. I want to try the Free to Air option or other alternatives. Can anyone direct me to a site(s) that can easily explain the ABCs about Satellites?

Any Help is much appreciated.

[vj9999]

What channels are you interested in? FTA is not meant to be a replacement for Dish/Cable.

[rainman]

welcome Burkan

a good place to start is on the forums read all that you can will help you to know what's up there. and what equipment you need to get it.

[elgemcdlf]

I would highly recommend biting the bullet and putting in a 10' or larger solid dish with both C and Ku lnbs. You want solid as it is a far superior reflector for Ku. For a receiver go with a DSR922 from Motorola. Add in the HDD200 box and you now have a complete 4DTV setup with HD capability. Only a couple of pieces missing. A FTA receiver. Choose one with blind search.

There are many what I consider quality channels available on FTA in English but most are on the C Band side of life. Next item I would add would be an OTA HD receiver and an antenna to go with it. After that surround sound and a HD TV.

I think I have spent enough of your money for now

Seriously though I would do the 4DTV system. Picture quality is far superior to Dish Network or DirecTV. Add just the FTA receiver and you will have a ton of channels. When you decide to go HD either the HDD200 for the DSR922 or the OTA with an antenna. You can also subscribe Ala Carte to channels with a big dish.

Hope that helps a bit.

Steve

[Burkan]

Seems to be good advice, even though it’s costing me an arm and a leg, but I still need to learn more about this business. Like what’s the difference between C and Ku? What is lnbs? What are the differences between the DSR922 receiver and the FTA receiver or the OTA HD receiver? Unless I know what these things really do and how they connect to each other, most of the postings I read is very cryptic.


I'm interested in good entertainment and educational channels.

[monaco]

1. DSR 920 or 922 is a 4DTV digicipher II / videocipher II + receiver that can be subscribed or can view free to air analog feeds and digital feeds.
It is usually hooked up to a big dish and can have C and or Ku LNB's.

It sounds like you need to do a little bit of self education on satellite 101.

2. Mpeg2 DVB standard and hd are on both C and Ku. You need a seperate receiver capable of doing this type of digital signal. (Free To Air)

3. You can also use a high speed computer with a special tuner card and special software to decode the Mpeg2 streams. (Free To Air)

Keep searching for satellite forums and acquire some equipment and get started. (Get a big dish that someone is getting rid of.)
Learn how to set it up and go from there. Doing is learning.

C is 4 ghz carrier and requires the big dish
Ku is I think about 12 Ghz and requires a big dish with tight mesh or a small 1 meter dish.

LNB is the thing that the coax plugs into at the arm on the dish.

I hope that I could be of help.

Go to www.lyngsat.com and look at the channels and try to figure it out
Each satellite is listed and what is there and what is free and what is not.

Hope this helps

[Burkan]

Have you guys dealt with www.FreeToAirDish****.com ? the prices seem very reasonable. I’m not sure they are for real.

[rainman]

I would recommend www.sadoun.com for all you fta needs. good products and great service. very competive prices.